I had aspected this to be 10 chapters but it's going to have an epilogue and possibly bonus scenes.
Anyway here's chapter 10!
Merlin reached the mountains, hair disheveled, and was only still on his feet because of his unrelenting fear.
He could clearly remember the feel of her trail now, so it was easy to find without expending much energy. He kicked his horse on.
Judging by the sun it was nearing afternoon when his search had come to an end. He had come to a cliff side high in the mountains, where the trees were sparse compared to the copious amount in the woods. Coming to a large yet short tree enclosed by other shorter ones. He jumped off his horse and hid behind the shrubbery surrounding the rest of the mountain's nature, trying to get his bearings.
Then he saw her, close to wear the mountain was cut to create the natural plank of the cliff, tied to a tree with rope, having used much of the chains on the unconscious prisoner, a tall man in a dark cloak began to walk over to her.
"Ready for another session before we move on?" he distantly heard the man say. What does he mean by session?
Acacia's eyes snapped open, suddenly terrified, but before she could respond, he began to speak in the old tounge. Merlin's entire focus was centered on the horrified girl, as soon as he opened his mouth, he could feel the dark magic flowing around her. Then, she screamed.
Laying the sword Arthur had given him in the bushes, Merlin leapt forward enraged. His emotions ruling his magic, caused a nearby tree to be uprooted and thrown through the air, taking out the cart she had been confined to only hours ago, as well as the five men working around it, falling down into the abyss.
The sorcerer consentration came to a hault, temporarily ending the spell, he looked up. "Well, what do we have here? Another sorcerer?"
"Leave. Her. Alone." Merlin growled, taking a position as he readied himself for the fight.
He turned to face him fully, a malicious smile on his lips. "No. I don't think so. But maybe you would like to join her? Her buyer likes a challenge in torturing his possessions."
Shock made it's way across Merlin's face. His eyes immediately sought Acacia. She met his gaze, her eyes glazed over, exhaustion marring her features. What has he done to her?
"I am Kargeth. Perhaps you have heard of me? I am rather well known in the trading business." He added pompously.
"I'll give you one last warning, to let her go." He panted clenching his fists, struggling to keep his emotions in check.
Sneering, the sorcerer hand shot out in front of him calling fire to his aid, almost hitting Merlin. This seemed to make Acacia lucid, as she started struggling against her bonds. She shouted a spell, her and fear at a new peak, wanting to help the warlock, but the enchantment on the chains still held. She screamed again, growing horse, and fighting to stay conscious, as the new spell placed on her that morning caused the chains to tighten once more.
Merlin looked over at her in time to see the chains glow softly around her. He knew that spell, knew that pain.
The battle continued.
The sorcerer through spell after spell increasing in haste, and power.
Scileden! Merlin yelled, a strong shield appearing.
He dodged, used his shield, and countered spells as they came. With a small cry of surprise and minor amount of pain, Merlin went down on one knee, his shield sparking gold as it faded, one of the Kargeth's blows hitting his right leg.
"That's right, boy, you're no match for me!" The man yelled manically, panting as the strain of his magic caught up with him, feeling victory in his grasp.
"You sure about that?" Merlin asked, smirking up at his opponent, watching the confusion and color drain from his face.
He had positioned the hidden sword in the bushes, carefully moving it little by little, while fighting the sorcerer. Now it was too close for the man to stop it, and the warlock's reaction was too fast. Using his instinctual magic he was born with, he caused the sword to fly into the sorcerer's stomach.
He stumbled, shock written on his face. He didn't even incant a spell! He thought implausibly as he continued to stumble backward, until he fell, like his men, off of the cliff.
The remainder of his men stared in at the warlock, stunned into silence.
They looked at eachother, as if unsure what to do. Then they charged.
Before Merlin could raise his hand to attack again, he heard a familiar battle cry coming out of the bushes behind him. Turning around, he watched as Arthur ran, sword raised; his knights right behind him, along side an unfamiliar face topped with bright blonde hair.
They wildly swung their swords taking out the distracted men with ease. Merlin, carefully watching out for the prince, picked his way through the battle, dodging and interfering when it was necessary.
Finally, the battle nearly finished as the men were either slain or ran to be met with swords, the warlock reached her. Unconscious from the Kargeth's efforts, Merlin tried to break the chains. First, he tried looking around for a sword, fearful that even any outside magic could just end up make the situation worse. He had not seen how Kilgarrah had undone his bonds when the witch Morgause had placed this spell on him. Spotting a fallen sword near the trader's supplies, he dove for it.
The weapon firmly in his grasp, he ran back to the limp form of Acacia. Looking for a weakness in the chains, he threw the weapon down, breaking the binds.
The chains fell away; Merlin cast the sword away, catching her before she slumped to the ground.
Adjusting her position so he was kneeling down beside her, with her in his arms, he pushed the hair out of her face, and began to try and wake her.
"Acacia?" he whispered, almost begging for an answer.
Receiving none, he began to panic. Then he took in her appearance.
Her arms had become raw once more, her shoulder moved back to and odd angle, her legs, arms and face were cut from when she had fallen running in the woods earlier, still covered in dirt and dried blood. Most of her upper body was bloody from where the chains had been cutting into her, leaving more then just imprints.
"Merlin?" Arthur called, the servant's back facing him. The prince peered over his friend's shoulder to see the state of the battered framed girl.
The warlock didn't answer.
"Please, Acacia. Don't do this." He whispered. I don't want to lose you.
He lay her down on the dirt gound, and bent over, closing his eyes, and touched his forehead to hers. He closed out everything in his mind, listening and feeling for any signs of her exsistance. After a few intense moments he felt a barely discerable, but unmistakable shallow breaths of air. His eyes shot open.
"She's alive." He breathed.
Using his sleeve to wipe away unshed tears, he steeled his emotions as best he could and gathered her in his arms. He slowly stood, cradling her even more gently when she whimpered at the movement, and turned to face his prince.
Arthur recognized the determination on his friend's face, but he did not expect to see such fear, pain, and over all anger that seem to radiate around him. He merely watched, as the man walked past him, heading for his horse.
"She'll ride with me." Merlin said simply, as he past the royal, ignoring the stares from the small group of knights. Even Jerald didn't make a move toward them, fearing the outcome of what this man would do if he were to so much as touched her.
Arthur followed behind him not saying a word. Merlin handed Acacia to the prince, getting on his horse and Arthur helped him position her so that she was in front of him, riding sidesaddle, resting safely in his arms. One of the knights wordlessly brought Arthur his horse and they began their trek back to Camelot.
Can't wait for season 5! September 29th! youtube it!